eprintid: 4066
rev_number: 8
eprint_status: archive
userid: 1
dir: disk0/00/00/40/66
datestamp: 2022-11-04 12:22:13
lastmod: 2023-09-07 09:14:41
status_changed: 2022-11-04 12:22:13
type: thesis
metadata_visibility: show
sword_depositor: 1
creators_name: Rijkeboer, Marlies
creators_id: S3206866
creators_email: m.l.rijkeboer@student.rug.nl
title: Fostering innovation in the construction industry
ispublished: unpub
full_text_status: restricted
abstract: Innovation is a multidimensional, global, dynamic and open activity which increases competitiveness,
generates economic benefits, and improves the quality of living standards through the creation and
adoption of innovative ideas and technologies. Growing environmental challenges encourage using
innovation as a promising tool for transformative sustainable system change. In line with this, the goal
for the Dutch economy is to be circular by the year 2050. Key in achieving this, is collaborative
governance. Public, private and civic organizations work collectively, to accelerate the transition
towards a circular economy. One of the five transition agendas to accomplish this, is assigned to the
construction industry.

The Dutch infrastructure construction industry is struggling with its lacking long-term perspective and
its focus on individual phase results. The fragmented and linear project nature of construction projects
forms a barrier to innovation. This is problematic since the Dutch construction sector accounts for 50%
of the raw materials consumption, of which a large proportion is caused by waste from demolition. In
combination with pressing environmental challenges, such as the Dutch nitrogen crisis, policymakers
agree that the pace of circular innovation has to step up to create a more sustainable living environment.
Unfortunately, the transformation from a linear towards a more circular construction sector requires a
radical system change, opposing a challenge for policymakers and construction professionals. This
challenge is fundamentally grounded in the fact, that a societal and academic knowledge gap exists in
how innovative outcomes are developed and implemented in construction projects.

Therefore, the research aim of this study is to explain how and which structural mechanisms in
collaborative governance foster innovation. Structural mechanisms are connected and explained by the
model of Carbonara & Pellegrino (2019), who developed a conceptual framework of the relationship
between innovation and public-private partnerships (PPP), based on main streams of studies on
innovation. This study extends current academic knowledge by using this model to explain structural
mechanisms for innovation in other types of public-private collaborative governance models.
Additionally, the influence of network management activities on the structural mechanisms of the
network structure is studied based on the theoretical insights of Busscher et al. (2022), Klijn &
Koppenjan (2006) and Warsen et al. (2019).

A qualitative research methodology is applied by collecting data from documents and semi-structured
interviews. The research design answers the research question ‘how do different structural mechanisms
contribute to innovation in Dutch construction projects?’ through a comparative case study of four
successful circular construction projects characterized by four different public-private collaborative
governance models. The selected cases are Croeselaan Utrecht, bio-based cycling bridge Ritsumasyl,
Circular Viaduct Kampen and InnovA58 Living Lab.

Findings reveal that early private sector involvement, mutual trust among actors and investing in
network management activities, such as facilitating interaction and exploring for new ideas, adapted to
the projects’ situation are crucial in achieving innovative outcomes. These results provide foundations
for future planning practice implications for more sustainable and innovative construction of future
infrastructure.
date: 2022
pages: 57
thesis_type: master
degree_programme: EIP
tutors_name: Verweij, S.
tutors_organization: Fac. Ruimtelijke wetenschappen, Basiseenheid Planologie
tutors_email: S.Verweij@rug.nl
security: public
keywords_local: Construction
keywords_local: innovation
keywords_local: circularity
keywords_local: early private stakeholder involvement
keywords_local: sustainability
language_iso: en
date_issued: 2022-09-25
comment: Toestemming verkregen voor het verkrijgen van de data voor eigen gebruik voor het maken van de thesis en de toestemming het te delen met mijn begeleider en tweede lezer. Als de database openbaar is/blijft, vertrouwelijk.
citation:   Rijkeboer, Marlies  (2022) Fostering innovation in the construction industry.  Master thesis.   
document_url: https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/4066/1/Master%20thesis%20Marlies%20Rijkeboer%20S3206866_%20%282%29.pdf
document_url: https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/4066/7/Master%20thesis%20Marlies%20Rijkeboer%20S3206866_V0_.pdf
document_url: https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/4066/21/Toestemming.pdf